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Background: Lysimachia christinae Hance (LCH) is a traditional medicine used to treat gallstone disease and cholecystitis. Despite its known anti‐inflammatory and choleretic effects, its quality has not been extensively evaluated. Objective: In this study, we aimed to establish a reliable quality evaluation method for LCH via fingerprint, spectrum–effect relationship, and quantitative analyses of multicomponents by a single marker (QAMS). Methods: First, the fingerprints and anti‐inflammatory and choleretic activities of 14 LCH batches were determined. Then, the gray relation analysis method was used to analyze the peak areas of the fingerprint profile and pharmacodynamic data. Subsequently, the characteristic peaks were tentatively identified using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Finally, rutin was selected as the internal reference material, and QAMS was used to analyze the LCH components. Results: Pharmacodynamic experiments confirmed that LCH exerted anti‐inflammatory and choleretic effects. Moreover, 15 flavonoids related to the anti‐inflammatory and choleretic effects of LCH were identified. Notably, relative error percentage between the QAMS and external standard method was less than 5%. Conclusion: This study successfully established a comprehensive evaluation method for the qualitative and quantitative analyses of LCH. This article has two innovations: (1) The study confirmed the indicator chemical components that can reflect the anti‐inflammatory and choleretic effects of LCH and optimized the quality control indicators. (2) Based on the theory of QAMS, the study successfully established a rapid detection method for the indicator chemical components of LCH, effectively reducing inspection costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the influence of diagenetic water media on the hydrogen isotopes of individual sedimentary aromatic compounds, a series of hydrous pyrolyses were conducted on herbaceous peat. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in hydrous pyrolysed samples and their hydrogen isotopic composition characteristics were studied. The aqueous medium demonstrated a significant influence on the hydrogen isotopic composition of the individual PAHs generated during pyrolysis. The results showed that the PAHs formed after pyrolysis in the presence of a saltwater medium with high δD value from a salt lake had a heavy hydrogen isotopic composition. The PAHs formed after pyrolysis in the presence of a fresh water medium with low δD value from a swamp had a light hydrogen isotopic composition. The difference in the average PAH δD value between the two hydrous experiments varied from –174‰ to –109‰, suggesting that the hydrogen isotopic composition of individual sedimentary PAHs can reflect the source of the diagenetic water medium. In addition, a comparative study found that the hydrogen isotopes of PAHs were superior to those of n‐alkanes in the same sample for diagenetic water indications. The results indicated that the exchange of water‐derived inorganic hydrogen and organic hydrogen was more intensive in freshwater experiments than in saltwater experiments. With an increase in the simulation temperature, the average δD value of PAHs generated in the hydrous simulation experiments showed an increasing trend, reflecting that the δD value of sedimentary PAHs formed with the participation of diagenetic water media was still closely related to the thermal maturity of organic matter. Comparative studies showed that the δD values of different types of organic compounds produced by hydrous pyrolysis of peat were in the order, PAHs > n‐alkanes > methane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union has set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in total energy consumption, ensure the development and use of clean energy sources, and strive to reduce carbon emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2050. This study attempts to assess the environmental impact of electricity production on electricity demand and associated emissions in Italy through a three-step process. First, a literature review was conducted to estimate the growth of electricity demand in Italy by population and industry in 2014. Secondly, the CO2 and SO2 produced in the process of power generation by different power production methods were evaluated and compared. Finally, according to the current production and power models, the development trend of renewable energy in Italy in 2050 was estimated, and the satisfactory conclusion is that the renewable energy can fully meet the supply and demand in 2050 in Italy.

Coal samples analyzed from Junggar Basin are characterized by high Total Organic Carbon (TOC) contents (63.7-82.2%) in all samples, except the highly over-mature samples Ha-01 and Ha-02, and high S2 (60.5-83.0 mg HC/g rock) and Hydrogen Index (HI) values (77-118 mg HC/g TOC), indicating the coal rocks have excellent source rock potential. The Tmax values (418-531°C), C29 sterane 20S/(20S+20R) ratios (0.20-0.54) and C31 homohopane 22S/(22S+22R) ratios (0.26-0.61) indicate an immature to highly over-mature stage of organic matter, which is supported by the organic geochemical maturation parameters. In addition, n-alkane carbon numbers range from C11 to C33 with maxima at n-C19 or n-C23, exhibiting unimodal distribution patterns except Ai-13 and Ha-01, and low Pr/Ph ratios (0.29-0.80) in Ai-01, Ai-13, Ha-01 and Ha-02, indicating a suboxic reductive environment. In Wu-8, Wei-09 and Shinan-20, the Pr/Ph ratios are clearly greater than 1.0 (2.43-3.23), indicating oxic depositional conditions. Furthermore, pristane isomers were identified in extracts from these coal samples. Using coals of different maturity, which correspond to vitrinite reflectances (%Ro) of 0.36-2.99%, the Pristane Isomerization Ratio (PIR) (PIR = [6(R)10(R)+6(S)10(S)]/6(R)10(S)) ranges from 0.42 to 0.97 for the coal extracts. The value of the PIR, which is a molecular maturity parameter, is evaluated by analyzing a series of samples using known values of the molecular maturity parameter based on the sterane and hopane isomerization indices, and the Methyl Phenanthrene Index (MPI). Changes to the PIR in highly mature Ai-13 (Ro > 1.5%) and over-mature Ha-01 and Ha-02 (Ro > 2.0%) are clear; thus, a linear correlation is evident between the PIR and Ro. The results suggest that the PIR is an appropriate indicator of maturity for the highly mature and over-mature coal samples in the Junggar Basin.

The abundant acyclic isoprene alkanes, including norpristane (2, 6, 10-tetramethyltetradecane), pristane (2, 6, 10, 14-tetramethylpentadecane), phytane (2, 6, 10, 14-tetramethylhexadecane) and their diastereomers, were detected and separated by GC-MS/MS in the coal sample of the Junggar Basin. Furthermore, the optimized condition of separation were discussed in terms of column type, length, and column temperature program. The results showed that the separation degree (R) of their diastereomers (i.e., 6(R)10(S)), 6(S)10(S) + 6(R)10(R)) of norpristane, pristane and phytane reached 0.6, 0.8 and 0.9, respectively. It indicated that the method was versatile, simple, rapid and efficient to separate the diastereomers of acyclic isoprene alkanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface soils from the tourist areas of the northwest Qinling Mountains were analyzed to determine the concentrations, probable sources and potential risks of hydrocarbons. Concentrations of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons ranged from 4.18 to 3240 ng g−1and 0.0462 to 101 ng g−1dry weight, respectively. The extent of soil contamination by hydrocarbons was generally typified by unpolluted to slightly polluted levels. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCRs) for exposure to soil-borne PAHs indicated complete safety for tourists. Early diagenesis of natural products, bacteria activities and petroleum were the three main sources of aliphatic hydrocarbons, while the transport of air pollutants from pyrolytic processes was the main origin of PAHs. Because the photochemical reaction of PAHs in the atmosphere would produce lower ratios for Ant/(Ant + Phe), BaA/(BaA + Chr) and IcdP/(IcdP + BghiP), but a higher ratio for Fla/(Fla + Pyr), the source classification highly depended on the diagnostic ratios chosen. The plot of ΣCOM/Σ13PAH vs. ΣLMW/ΣHMWPAHprovide additional information to distinguish the origins of PAHs, and it showed a cluster of pyrogenic sources except for sample JFS-8. Four sources were resolved by principal component analysis: (1) a low temperature pyrogenic process related to the use of fossil fuel and biomass, such as charcoal, straw and wood, which contributes 63.1% of the measured PAHs; (2) the potential contribution of diagenetic processes, contributing 18.4%; (3) traffic emissions, contributing 9.27%; and (4) bioconversion/bacterial action, contributing 5.82%. Additionally, there was a good exponential relationship (r2= 0.969) between the naturaln-alkanes ratio (NAR) and carbon preference index for C23–C35(CPI23–35) for all samples, which is of great use for the determination of the origins of aliphatic hydrocarbon. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]